Pastors urged to correct perception that African culture is evil
Nana Osei Kofi, Chief of Sabin Akrofrom, has urged pastors to correct the perception among Christians that African culture is inherently evil and incompatible with the Christian faith.
He said pastors must debunk the notion that everything about African culture was devilish and should be neglected by Christians and rather strike a balance between biblical teachings and the people’s cultural heritage.
Nana Osei Kofi, who is also the Bremponghene of Sabin Akrofrom, made the call when he preached at the City Baptist Church during its Cultural Day celebration.
Preaching on the theme, “Demystifying the Perception Christians Have About African Culture,” he defined culture as the way of life of a people, including their dressing, food, music, dance, marriage, naming and funeral rites.
He said every group’s culture identified it and must not be erased but upheld.
Quoting Lord Macaulay’s report to the British Parliament after his visit to Africa on February 2, 1835, Nana Osei Kofi said the assertion that there was no crime and other positive attributes about Africa, and that the only way to break the African system was through the collapse of its culture or heritage, marked the beginning of the continent’s woes.
He said it was at that point that the British, for instance, began altering Africa’s educational system, language and belief systems to halt its progress.
Nana Osei Kofi said Africans were brainwashed into developing a taste for the dress, food and lifestyle of their colonial masters, while their own instruments and cultural artefacts were condemned and taken away.
Citing the xylophone as an example, he said it was converted into the piano and returned to Africans, adding that if such instruments and other cultural elements had been preserved, they would have generated foreign exchange and employment.
The Chief said returning to Africa’s roots was not devilish but would highlight its uniqueness, although he acknowledged that every culture had negative aspects that must be eliminated.
He said practices such as chieftaincy, funeral rites and libation were not inherently negative.
Referring to the Bible, Nana Osei Kofi said God anointed kings such as Saul, the first King of Israel, followed by David, to rule; therefore, chieftaincy and chiefs were not evil.
He urged pastors to collaborate with chiefs to ensure effective leadership, as reflected in biblical accounts.
Quoting the Bible, Nana Osei Kofi said when good people ruled, the land prospered, but when evil people ruled, the people suffered and encouraged Christians to assume leadership roles when given the opportunity.
He cautioned chiefs against vices such as double sale of lands and immorality and urged them to uphold justice.
He said by so doing, and by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour and walking in His ways, they would be accepted by God.
On naming children after ancestors instead of adopting foreign names, Nana Osei Kofi said the practice would help preserve culture and identity.
He expressed optimism that with the introduction of Cultural Day in some churches and continuous sensitisation through the handing down of history to the younger generation, Ghanaians were close to reclaiming their identity.
Source: GNA